The metabolomic fingerprints of a protected sea turtle species have been investigated for the first time using a
nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics approach. We emphasized method development of optimal
plasma filtration conditions (filter type, washing techniques, extract stability) for green turtles and other organisms, while
also using the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Standard Reference Material 1950 (SRM 1950) Metabolites
in Human Plasma for quality control. We surveyed the blood plasma metabolomic fingerprints of Hawaiian
green sea turtles representing a wide range of physiological conditions that include varying disease states, behavioral conditions,
and locales. The turtles sampled were free-swimming (n=5 from Hualalai on the west coast of the island of Hawaii),
basking (n=7 from Hualalai), free-swimming tumor-free (n=3 from Kapoho, east coast of Hawaii), or freeswimming
afflicted with external tumors (n=5 from Kapoho) caused by the disease, fibropapillomatosis (FP). The metabolomic
profiles and the specific metabolites that differed among individual turtles are discussed. This optimized tool
and the annotated metabolic profiles will benefit future investigations into the behavioral and disease conditions of the
green turtle.